Rockburn Branch Park! An Easy Side of Moderate 5-6 Miles

Rockburn Branch Park! A Newbie Friendly/Easy 5-Mile Nature Enjoyment Paced Hike with Optional Post Hike Meal

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A 450-acre park overshadowed by the monstrous nearby Patapsco Valley State Park, Rockburn Branch Park provides an excellent place to hike with little foot traffic! Due to its proximity to adjacent Patapsco Valley State Park, Rockburn Branch Park often gets overlooked as a hiking destination, but lots of people, including us take advantage of its lack of entrance fee and many amenities.

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Trail Information

Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Ellicott City
Length: ~5-6 miles
Scenery: Rockburn Branch, mixed hardwoods, historic structures
Exposure: Mostly shade
Traffic: Light to moderate
Trail Surface: Packed dirt, asphalt, and crushed rock.
Trail Type: Jagged, intersecting loop
Skill Level: Easy
Season: Year-round
Trailhead Elev: 110 feet
Top Elev: 380 feet

Elevation Gain: 500 feet

Local Contacts: Rockburn Branch Park

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Park Entry Fee
There is no park entrance fee.

Gear Suggestions
Click Here (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/gear-information.html) for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.

Weather Information
We hike rain or shine. Click Here (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.25955981303605&lon=-76.80313963148802&site=all&smap=1#.VB01YnZ0xhE) to view the forecast for the area where we will be hiking.

Hike Pace
The goal for this hike is to be led at a pace with a focus on fresh air in a natural environment. Come on out and enjoy a change of pace and unparalleled camaraderie that thanks to our wonderful members and fantastic leaders make the MAHG charitable organization the success that we are!

Our RSVP and Group Etiquette
Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Hiking/pages/RSVP_Rules_and_Etiquette/) to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.

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Carpool Suggestions and Information

Note that you are responsible for knowing how to get from carpool locations to the venue. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is not responsible for transportation to and from events or carpools. Suggested carpool times and places are provided as a courtesy because many members are either new to the area or unfamiliar with a particular hike or venues location. Please use the 'Comments' section below, or reach out via e-mail to make arrangements for carpooling needs and offerings.

Baltimore Area Carpool Suggestion - Savage Station
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore area, people can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Hiking/pages/Carpool_Directions_for_Savage_Station/) for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Savage Station location.

DC Area Carpool Suggestion - Centreville
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, people can arrange to meet at the Centreville Park and Ride. Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Hiking/pages/Directions_to_Centerville_Park_and_Ride_Carpool/) for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Centreville Park and Ride location.

If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, please post your location and needs in the comment section below. Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/pages/Suggested_Carpool_Locations/?name=Suggested_Carpool_Locations) for a list of suggested carpool locations complete with directions and other details including other carpool information. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment — by just offering a ride!

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Optional Post Hike Meal and Camaraderie

We will have an optional post hike meal to be decided by group consensus, preferably decided before the hike so we can head straight there instead of spending time trying to decide when we are all tired and hungry-grin

Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/rockburn-branch.html) (https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/pages/Directions%3A_Rockburn_Park_%28Rockburn_Branch_Lot%29/)to Where We Meet for this Hike

Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 9:45-9:55 a.m.

We step off at 10:00 am Sharp

Carpool Time from Savage Station — 9:15 a.m.

Please remember we are a volunteer supported organization that values fellowship and camaraderie while practicing good hike etiquette (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/hike-and-trail-etiquette.html)and Leave No Trace (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/leave-no-trace.html) principles. Our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer (https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/pages/9595722/How_To_Join_Our_Leadership_Team!/) as leaders for Mid-Atlantic Hiking Groups volunteer leadership team. Hikes also have a volunteer “sweeper” to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. MAHG volunteers and members are very supportive, encouraging, with a focus on safety while enjoying the excellent camaraderie and benefiting from the many health benefits of hiking and unplugging from the stress of day-to-day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of MAHGs core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to the organization's mission (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/). Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a volunteer supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/mahg-charity.html) and donations ARE tax deductible (https://midatlantichikinggroup.networkforgood.com/projects/17107-fall-into-hiking-for-health). Tax ID: 47-5141831 (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/mahg-charity.html).

A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!

Let’s have fun out on the trails and see you there!

Keith: 410-245-9843. No texts, please.

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• Please Click Here (https://secure.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/contribute/)and Chip-In to Help Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group in Serving our Mission (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/index.html).

• Donations to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group are Tax Deductible: Tax ID 47-5141831 (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/mahg-charity.html). Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charitable organization.

• Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/about/) to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.

• 100% of Every Dollar Goes Directly to the Expenses of Meeting our Mission.